From Social Worker to Storyteller: Sharswayla Bonilla's Debut Book Inspires Young Readers to Never Give Up

From Social Worker to Storyteller: Sharswayla Bonilla's Debut Book Inspires Young Readers to Never Give Up

Sharswayla Bonilla spends her days as a social worker at our Thompson Road Campus, guiding CTE students through challenges big and small. Now she's reaching a whole new audience with her debut children's book—a simple yet powerful story that's already resonating with readers young and old.

In "Renee's Big Bike Ride," a spunky little girl named Renee, who is modeled after Bonilla herself (right down to the leopard-print glasses), grows tired of being the last one to arrive at the park because of her training wheels. Falls and frustration follow, but Renee discovers that scraped knees are part of the journey to riding free.

Bonilla, who earned her master's degree in social work from Syracuse University and is working toward New York State licensure, wrote the book after facing her own struggles in her academic pursuits.

"So I thought, 'How could I turn a negative into a positive and inspire others?’ " Bonilla said.

She chose the children's book format to reach young readers at a pivotal moment in their development.

"The younger generation is learning how to read, they're exploring different stories, so I had the idea of a children's book," she said. "I wanted to make sure that the story was relatable, motivating and meaningful, especially for that (5-8) age range."

The milestone she selected? Learning to ride a bike—"but not only riding a bike—riding a bike without training wheels," she said.

She worked closely for five months with Farheen Fatima, an illustrator she found on Upwork, a website that connects freelance workers across several professions with artists.

"She's amazing," Bonilla said of Fatima. 

The book came to life with vibrant illustrations and an engaging interactive ending: children are given the challenge of matching helmets, elbow pads and other safety gear to Renee and her bicycle.

Bonilla hopes "Renee's Big Bike Ride" is just the beginning of a series that continues inspiring young readers—and anyone else who needs the reminder.

"No matter what your journey looks like and how many hurdles you have to go through, the goal you're setting for yourself is definitely worth it," Bonilla said. "You just have to keep pushing yourself."

The book is available now on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Renees-Bike-Ride-Sharswayla-Bonilla/dp/B0FNY4KQMC